Life and the Hydrangea

When I observe the different stages of the hydrangea from early bud to the dried petals that remain long after the leaves have dropped from the bush it reminds me of a life.  First the tiny bud that grows and changes from green to white to pale pink and finally to brown.  Our lives are similiar in that we begin as a small budding little person, we are born pure in thoughts and deeds.  The change continues as we grow, develop thoughts, ideas, learn a skill, and our small single bud becomes a bush full of beautiful flowers.  Our world expands to include our own family, our friends, our business acquaintances, our expanding bush.  We could not grow without the love of each other and the love of God.  Just as God provides rain and light for the hydrangea to grow, He provides us with his love and surrounds us with what we need to grow.  As the hydrangea begins to age and it's petals take on that aged glow, we too change, our bodies change, our thoughts and ideas sometimes change and unfortunately sometimes our minds age and change. 

Hydrangea bud....

Today I admitted my husband to a Memory Care facility.  One of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make.  My sweetheart has been showing signs of Alzheimers since the late 90's and was officially diagnosed over 3 years ago.  I have been caring for him without help,  with a lot of patience and love since the beginning.  It was indeed a challenge, but one that I managed for many years.  His decline has been significant this last year and I finally realized that I cannot continue to give him the care that he needs and deserves.  I was able to find, with the help of our daughter, a loving, caring facility that is dedicated to caring for those with dementia and Alzheimers.  This disease is reaching epidemic proportions, I only pray that a cure comes soon.  My life will definitely be different as I go forward, however I know in my heart this was the right decision both for him and for me.  

"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose.  All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."  -  Helen Keller

Until next time......(comments always welcomed)